The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-01-22
GOOD NEWS.
The Senate FOrfeits the Backbone
Land Grant.
Bully for Gibson!

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declare forfeiture of lands grant
ed to the New Orleans, Baton
Rouge and Vicksburg railroad
company 1.-THE backbone), the for
FIXTURE to apply to lands east of
the Mississippi, and to confirm to
the New Orleans Pacific railroad,
the assignee of the other company,
the granted lands not forfeited.
| Mr.. Eustis supported the first
proposition, but opposed the SEC
ond, and offered a substitute for
the whole bill The substitute de-
clares that all lands originally
granted be forfeited, with proviso
confirming titles acquired by pur-
chasers from any railroad company
by any bona fide settlers.
| Mr.. Gibson offered an amend
ment to the original bill, protecting
the rights of settlers, and argued
against the substitute offered by
his colleague. He urged his sub
stitute and spoke of the near time
when the overshadowing influence
and power of corporate bodies over
Legislation would be checked, sub
jected and destroyed The condi-
lions of the grant as to the time
when the railroad should be COM
pleted had not been complied with,
and, therefore, the grant ceased
to exist.
Mr.. Edmunds argued against the
bill. He characterized the pur-
chase of the grant from the Back
bone Railroad as lone of the most
audacious deals ever practiced in
the United States, and that was
saying good deal"
The amendment offered by Mr..
Gibson was agreed to without d.
vision. The question was then
taken on the substitute offered by
Mr.. Eustis and it was rejected
yeas IL, nays 35. The bill as
amended was then passed without
division.
The bill as passed declares for
feited the lands granted to the New
Orleans, Baton Rouge and Vicks-
burg railroad company by the act
of March 8, 1871, rs to that part of
the grant situated on the east side
of the Mississippi river, and also
as to that part ON the west of the
Mississippi which is opposite to
and coterminous with the part of
the New Orleans and Pacific rail-
road company which was compile
ted on Jan. 5, 1881.
1t relinquishes and confirms to |
the New Orleans Pacific railroad
company las the assignee of the
New Orleans, Baton Rouge and
Vicksburg) the lands not so declar-
ed forfeited, such lands to be loca-
ted in accord with the map fled
by the New Orleans Pacific compa-
ny in the Department of the Inte-
rior, October, 1881, and November,
1882, indicating the definite loca-
ton of the route, provided, that all |
the lands occupied by settlers, and
still remaining in their possession,
shall be deemed exempt from such
grant.
The section, as amended on the
motion of Gen. Gibson, now reads
as follows:
That the title Of the United States and
OF the original grantee to the lands grant
ed by the said act Of Congress Of March
3, 1871, to said grantee, the New Orleans,
Baton Rouge and Vicksburg railroad
not herein declared forfeited IL
relinquished, granted, conveyed and con-
frmed to New Orleans Pacific railroad
as the assignee of the New Or
leans, Baton Rouge and Vicksbnrg rail-
road company, said lands to be cited in
accordance with the map fled by said
New Orleans Pacific railroad company
in the Department of the Interior Oct.
q. 1881, and Nov: II, 1882 which indicate